Timing chain tensioners again(!) - buying another X308

[XJ_Driver]

I've started to shop around for another X308 to replace the one I sold recently. Plenty of nice looking cars out there, many with good service history, and yet when I ask the obvious question: "Have the timing chain tensioners been replaced?" No one ever seems to know...

I assume the lack of a receipt probably means they haven't (after all, you wouldn't throw that away would you, it could add £££s to your car's value). Still, every XJ8 I have enquired about recently it seems the vendor can never be sure. I've also noticed that replacement tensioners (where indeed they have been fitted) seldom seem to feature in 'For Sale' advertisement descriptions either.

Which leads me to wonder how many X308s - the youngest of which are now thirteen years old - are in fact still running around happily on their original tensioners? My previous '99 X308 was running well when I sold it, but I had become spooked by all the horror stories and didn't really want to splash out on a car I was never planning to keep long term.

I suppose the safest bet now is to find a car I like, work out what I'd be prepared to pay for it, but then offer the vendor at least £500 less again on the assumption the timing chains require imminent replacement?

Somehow it just all seems a bit unscientific. Or am I missing something?

[ptjs1]

John,

If a vendor can't prove with either receipts or photos etc, then you must assume that you'll have to change them immediately, even if that only means that stripdown proves they have been done.

Personally, if I wasn't absolutely sure they hadn't been done, I'd price in more than £500 on purchase price.

And to slightly contradict your latter point, IMO, there aren't any cars running around "happily" on their original tensioners! Any car on it's original tensioners is running around scared s***less that they are going to fail at any second! (Which they will!)

Good luck in your search

Paul

[Brakebuster]

when i sold my 308 i provided all the receipts for the parts, and even included the original tensioners as proof of change , that and its immortalised on the internet , lol

anyone who has carried out this work themselves or via a garage will me more than happy to tell you as it proves the car does not have this known weak point , and its probably the reason they are selling on the car themselves ( as you did )



good luck with the search

BB

[J44EAG]

This is why the top secondary tensioners if made from plastic need changing. Note the cracks in the body of the unit (mine on a V8 at 44k miles) and also one tensioner off another car which has really come to grief. Slipper plates torn off and lower body smashed in. In such cases the chains will probably also need replacing as metal to metal contact does serious damage.

As I recall two ali new type (fitted as standard on the 4.2 V8) can cost only around £100 for a pair. A bit more if chains are needed.

Here is a shot of the new ali type which has proved very robust and long lifed in service.

secondary_tensioner_metal.jpg (16.05KiB)Viewed 4772 times

For years within the Club this issue was a never ending subject. Thankfully most V8 4 litre Jaguars will have had there tensioners replaced. However some may not be so fortunate and those cars will be living on borrowed time. The only sure way to tell if they have been replaced is to lift a cam cover and have a look inside. If a seller cannot prove the tensioners have been replaced, you will as previously suggested have a good lever to lower the purchase price of a potential car purchase.

This matter affects X308, S-type V8 and XK8 models....3.2 and 4.00 litre models but NOT the later 4.2 litre variants from around 52 plate onwards.

Any car which rattles from the front of the engine upon start up should immediately be switched off and definitely not be driven until a diagnostic visual investigation has been carried out. No ifs or buts on that...the engine is about to disintegrate!

Mike K

[XJ_Driver]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions / fears, chaps... And a special thanks to Mike for those photos - very helpful. I can see I shall have to tread carefully!

[daveji]

It was a while back (2006).....but I had upper tensioners,water pump upgraded and a new thermostat done at CFS Motors.
Parts and 4 hours labour came to £326.79 then there is the VAT.
The job should not be "megabucks" even these days.

[joejag308]

I replaced my "triple by pass" tensioners, water pump, and thermostat at 30,000 miles as a precaution then logged it into my service history / for sale documentation ....in case i have to sell it...